Pope Francis once gave Prince George a gift

The special gift Pope Francis gave Queen Elizabeth for Prince George

Prince William attended the late pontiff's funeral on April 26

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APRIL 26, 2025 9:19 AM EDTAPR 26, 2025, 9:19 AM EDT

When Queen Elizabeth met with Pope Francis for the first time at the Vatican in 2014, Her Majesty was presented with a gift for her then 8-month-old great-grandson, Prince George. The 266th pontiff told the Queen that the lapis lazuli orb featuring the cross of St. Edward the Confessor on top was for "el ninetto." "That is very nice. He will be thrilled by that when he's a little older," Queen Elizabeth said, per the National Catholic Register.

Engraved on the base of the gift for the future King were the words: “Pope Francis to His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge."

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - APRIL 03: A gift of an orb is given by His Holiness, Pope Francis, for Prince George of Cambridge in the Pope's study, to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh during their one-day visit to Rome on April 3, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. During their brief visit The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will have lunch with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The Queen was originally due to travel to Rome in April 2013 but the visit was postponed due to her ill health. The audience with Pope Francis will be the fifth meeting The Queen, who is head of the Church of the England, has held with a Pope in the Vatican. (Photo by Holy See via Getty Images)

The private audience with Pope Francis on April 3, 2014 was the late Queen's seventh meeting with a pope. Pope Francis passed away this past Monday on April 21.

Prince George's father, the Prince of Wales, attended the pope's funeral on Saturday, April 26, on behalf of King Charles. Prince William was spotted sitting in the third row behind Jordan's Queen Rania at the funeral held in St. Peter’s Square.

VATICAN CITY, ITALY - APRIL 03: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, have an audience with Pope Francis, during their one-day visit to Rome on April 3, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. During their brief visit The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will have lunch with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The Queen was originally due to travel to Rome in April 2013 but the visit was postponed due to her ill health. The audience with Pope Francis will be the fifth meeting The Queen, who is head of the Church of the England, has held with a Pope in the Vatican. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Less than two weeks before the pope's death, the Prince of Wales' father and stepmother, Queen Camilla, privately met with His Holiness on their 20th wedding anniversary, while in Italy for a state visit.

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In a message following the pope's passing, King Charles said: "My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry."

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - APRILÂ 26: Prince William, Prince of Wales arrives at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peterâs Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21st at the age of 88. Born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to become Pope when elected in 2013. Taking the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi, he promoted a more humble version of the papacy than many of his predecessors. He will be buried outside of the Vatican in a simple wooden coffin at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

"His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others," Charles continued. "His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many."

26 April 2025, Vatican, Vatikanstadt: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (M) and his wife Elke BÃ¼denbender (center, 3rd from left) and other state guests, including the current Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, back, right), Britain's heir to the throne Prince William (back, 2nd from right) stand with other state guests after the funeral mass for the deceased Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square behind the coffin, which is brought back to St. Peter's Basilica. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa (Photo by Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The King also shared that he and Camilla were "greatly moved to have been able" to recently see the late pope. His Majesty said, "The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ."